Paisley curled her lip. She ran a disapproving gaze up and down the length of her before sticking her nose in the air. “Girlfriend? We’ll see how long that lasts. I saw your name on the auction list, and Daddy’s giving me extra money to bid on you this year.”
“Come on, girl. Let’s get you home.” Her friend flashed an apologetic smile and led the stumbling woman away.
Sean grabbed a napkin and wiped the lipstick off his hand and his mouth. “That wasn’t what it looked like.”
She hooked a finger in his belt loop and pulled him close. “It looked like a drunk woman making unwanted advances on my boyfriend.”
“Okay. It was what it looked like, then.”
“Who is she?”
He sighed and shook his head. “She’s an…old friend of the family. I swear there’s nothing going on.”
She narrowed her gaze at him. “I believe you. But I seriously might have to take out a loan to bid against her at the auction. There’s no way she’s winning a date with you.”
He slid his fingers into her hair and pressed his lips to her forehead. “No one’s going to win a date with me, sweetheart. I backed out of the auction.”
“But she said your name was on the list.”
“The committee sent out the press release before I told them.”
She hugged him tighter, the tension in her chest melting away. “I bet they weren’t very happy with you.”
He lifted one shoulder in a dismissive shrug. “Bachelor auctions are for single guys. I’m taken, remember?”
She bit her bottom lip and cast her gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. When I saw her kissing you, I just acted. I didn’t even think about it.”
“I think it’s called jealousy.”
She cringed. “I’m not usually like that.”
“It’s nice to know you’ll fight for me.” He slid his hands down to cup her butt and pressed his hips into hers. “It’s kind of a turn on.” His breath against her ear made her shiver. “If you’ll let me finish kicking Eric’s ass at pool, I’ll take you home and show you how much of a turn on it is.”
“Mmm. That sounds like an excellent idea.” She leaned in for a quick kiss, but his enticing scent and strong arms made her linger. His tongue slipped between her lips to brush with hers, and her knees turned to pudding.
“All right, you two. Break it up.” Eric clapped Sean on the shoulder. “Are we going to finish this game, or are you forfeiting?”
He pulled away to look at her. “What do you think?”
She grinned. “Finish him.”
“As you wish.”
Sydney smiled as Emily made her way back to the table. “That was exciting. I probably would’ve clawed her eyes out.”
She laughed. “I thought about it. I guess Sean has a thing for redheads.”
“Oh, he’s never had a thing for Paisley.”
“He called her an old friend of the family. Isn’t that guy code for they used to date?”
Sydney shook her head. “Trust me. I’ve known Sean since we were kids. His mom would disown him if he even thought about dating her.”
“Why?”
“Paisley’s mom tried to steal Sean’s dad away from Madeline when they were young. She’s hated her ever since, but they run in the same circles. I guess that makes them frenemies.”
“Scandalous.”
“Right? Anyway, you don’t have anything to worry about. Sean is crazy about you. I’ve never seen him so happy.” She traced her finger on the wood pattern of the table as if contemplating her next words. “I’ve got a feeling you two are going to be very happy together for a long time.”
“Funny.” She caught his gaze as he approached the table. “I have the same feeling.”
“The ass-kicking is complete.” Sean squeezed her shoulders. “Ready to go, babe?”
“Yeah. It was nice talking with you, Sydney.”
As soon as they stepped onto the sidewalk in front of the bar, Sean swept her into his arms. “I’m glad your couch is comfortable, because we may not make it all the way to your bedroom.”
He nuzzled into her neck, but she pulled away. “I’d rather go to your house if you don’t mind.”
He looked hard into her eyes, his brows furrowed with concern. “I love that you like coming to my place, but it seems like you never want to go home anymore. Is something wrong? Are you having problems with the…vandals?”
“No, it’s just…” She pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut. Sean didn’t believe vandals had broken into her apartment, no matter how hard he tried to act like he did, so she hesitated to tell him what was going on now. He was sure to insist something supernatural was at play, though there was a scientific explanation for the way she’d been feeling.
She sighed. She should tell him. He hadn’t pressured her to spill her other secrets, so why would he start now? “Whenever I’m at home, I start feeling sick. I get nauseated; my head hurts, and my chest feels heavy. I think I might have mold.”
He searched her eyes, and she braced herself for his otherworldly explanation. “Why haven’t you mentioned this before? We need to have it checked out; that stuff can make you sick.”
“I’ll call someone tomorrow.”
“All right. And you can stay with me until it’s taken care of. I don’t want you breathing in all those toxins.”
“Oh, I don’t want to impose.” Though the thought of living with Sean—even temporarily—kicked her heart into overdrive. “I’m sure I can crash on Trish’s couch if I need to.”
“I’m sure you could.” He cupped her cheek in his hand and ran a thumb across her lips. “But you could also sleep in my bed. With me.”
And she turned to putty again. Just like that. Trish’s couch versus Sean’s bed, especially with him in it—it was a no-brainer. She leaned into his touch and gave in to the melting sensation turning her insides to mush. “That sounds nice.”
* * *
Sean considered taking Emily by her apartment to pack a bag, but he didn’t want to give her time to change her mind. They could deal with the mold—whether or not that’s really what it was—tomorrow. Right now, he needed to be with her.
She clung to his arm as they walked up the front steps to his house. “I had fun tonight. I like your friends.”
He opened the door and led her inside. “They liked you too. Although the guys were a little miffed about being beaten by a couple of girls.”
She grinned. “I’m glad I could even the playing field for Sydney.”
“Speaking of playing fields.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Want to go play a game of tag between the sheets?” Sliding his hands beneath her shirt, he unhooked her bra. If he didn’t get her out of these clothes soon, he might spontaneously combust.
“Actually,” she wiggled from his arms, “I got a little sweaty playing laser tag. I think a shower might be in order before we go to bed.”
He let out a defeated sigh. “I suppose I can wait…”
She flicked out her tongue to moisten her lips and flashed a seductive smile.
Blood rushed to his groin as the realization hit. “Oh, you mean we should take a shower?”
She slipped a finger into the waistband of his jeans. “It would be a lot more fun if you were there.” She popped the button and slid her hand into his pants. “Care to join me?”
“Oh, god yes.” He followed her to the bathroom and turned on the water. She undressed slowly, obviously aware of the effect she had on him. His gaze never left her body as each article of clothing dropped to the floor. She stood there naked, her silky hair spilling around her shoulders, porcelain skin begging to be touched.
That playful smile curved her lips, and she rested a hand on her hip. “Well?”
“Well what?”
She opened the shower door and stepped inside. “Are you going to take your clothes off and join me, or are you just going to stand there?”
&nb
sp; Water ran in ribbons around her breasts, flowing down her stomach to caress her tender parts before cascading to the drain. She tipped her head back to dampen her hair, and he marveled at the rise and fall of her gloriously wet nipples as she breathed. Good lord, she was beautiful. And he needed to touch, to kiss, to taste every inch of her supple body before he made love to her.
He undressed quickly, but he took his time washing her, running his soapy hands over her soft curves, trailing his lips over her freshly rinsed skin. He massaged her scalp with shampoo and shivered at the soft moans resonating from her throat.
She leaned her head back to rinse her hair, and white suds cascaded down her body. “I thought you were in a hurry to get me to bed.”
He ran his hands over her slick skin, cupping her breasts in his hands, teasing her nipples with his thumbs. “I was. But I realized this is the first time we’ve showered together, so I decided to savor it.”
She picked up the soap and made a lather in her hands. “Well, then. Would you like me to wash you?”
“Yes, please.”
Her soft hands sliding over his wet skin sent another wave of blood rushing to his groin. If his cock got any harder, there wouldn’t be any blood left for his brain. Not that he minded. She ran her hands down his stomach and out to his hips, carefully avoiding the one place he wanted her to touch most. When his front side was thoroughly soapy, she slid her hands around to his back and pressed her body to his. She was warm and wet, and he couldn’t help but grab her ass and press his hips harder into hers.
“Not yet. You’re not rinsed.” She pulled him under the stream and wrapped her hand around his length. His entire body shuddered as she slipped her tongue into his mouth and stroked him.
“God, Emily. What did I do to deserve you?” He wanted to take her right there in the shower, but he refrained. He’d taken it slow so far and had relished every second of it. He intended to draw this out and make love to her slowly to show her just how special she was to him.
He put his hand on hers to slow her stroking and shut off the water. “I’m not done with you.” He grabbed a fluffy blue towel from a shelf and patted her dry.
“Be careful spoiling me like this, Sean. A girl could get used to this kind of treatment.”
He wrapped the towel around her hair and squeezed out the water. “I hope you do.” Pulling a brush from the drawer, he ran it through her hair from scalp to ends, gently loosening the tangles until it flowed like damp silk.
He watched her watching him in the mirror. The way her eyes fluttered every time the brush touched her scalp. The sweet smile curving her perfect pink lips. God, he loved this woman. It took all his strength not to tell her right then and there. It was too soon. She was still holding back, and when he said the words, he wanted to be sure she’d be ready to say them too.
He kissed her cheek and rested his chin on her shoulder, sliding his hands over her stomach. “You are sincerely the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
She twisted in his embrace to face him. “Take me to bed, Sean.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She lay in the center of the mattress and spread her legs to allow his hips to settle between them. As he pushed inside her, she closed her eyes and let out a soft mmm. He made love to her slowly. Filling her completely. Losing himself in her essence as two separate beings became one. A tangle of limbs, their bodies moved together in fluid motion, her lips gliding over his shoulders and neck, her teeth lightly grazing his skin. No sensation in the world existed but the feel of her body wrapped around him, the excruciating intimacy of lying with her. Vulnerable.
As her hands glided across his back, she held more than his body in her arms. She held his heart. He gave himself to her completely. There would never be another woman for him. She gripped his shoulders, arching her back to take him deeper, writhing beneath him as he pleasured her. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she cried out, her body shuddering as she found her release. The feel of her center contracting around him, her moans of satisfaction and the scent of her sweat-slickened skin sent him over the edge. He buried his face in her hair as his own orgasm overtook him, and he collapsed on top of her. Their pounding hearts beating as one, he lay there motionless, unable to break their intimate union just yet, and she hugged him tighter.
“That was amazing, Sean.”
“It keeps getting better.” He rose onto his elbows and gazed into the deep blue of her eyes. He belonged to her. He was completely and utterly devoted, yet she was holding back. He needed her trust more than he’d needed anything in his life, and he would find a way to earn it.
She ran her fingers through his damp hair. “You seem lost in thought.”
He rolled onto his back and pulled her to his side. “I’m just thinking about how wonderful you are and how I want to know everything about you.”
“I think you know every inch of me.”
“On the outside, maybe. But you haven’t told me everything.”
She rose onto her arm and rested her hand on his face. “I know. And I will tell you. Just…not tonight. Can we just enjoy being together for a while?”
“We absolutely can.”
“Is the salt still working?”
Funny that her mind immediately went to the salt at the mention of her keeping things from him. What could have possibly happened to her to make her so afraid of spirit energy?
“Probably not, but I have a dreamcatcher.” He pointed to the round, feathered web hanging above his bed. “It works like the salt to trap negative energy.”
She eyed him skeptically.
“Salt blocks out all energy, good and bad. The dreamcatcher only traps the bad, but I promise it will keep the nightmares away.”
She chewed her bottom lip and stared intently into his eyes as if deciding whether or not to trust him. “Are you sure?”
His chest ached at her hesitation. What would it take for her to trust him? “I’m positive. But if you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to grab some salt from the kitchen and pour it around the bed.”
“No. I believe you.” She settled next to him and rested her head on his chest.
Finally, he’d managed to chip away a little of this wall she’d built in her mind. He didn’t care how long it took, she would learn to trust him—and hopefully open her heart to love him.
Chapter Fourteen
Emily shot up in bed, clutching her chest, her heart threatening to beat a hole through her ribs. She gasped for breath and wiped the tears from her cheeks as she tried to banish the images of the dream from her mind.
Sean sat up and wrapped his arms around her. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” The deep, sleepy sound of his voice and the warmth of his embrace helped to slow her breathing.
“I thought you said that thing would keep me from having nightmares.” She flung her hand toward the dreamcatcher hanging on the wall above the headboard.
He brushed her sweat-dampened hair from her face. “It traps negative energy. If you had a bad dream, it must’ve come from your mind. What happened?”
She inhaled a shaky breath and shook her head. It had come from her mind. It had to have. “It doesn’t matter.”
He guided her head to the pillow and took her hands in his. “It might help to talk about it.”
She opened her mouth to say no, but she hesitated. It was just a dream. What harm could talking about a dream bring? “It was my sister. She was trying to tell me something, but her voice sounded strangled. Something about locking. Keep it locked, I think. Is the door locked?”
“Yes. I set the alarm as soon as we got home.”
“It’s probably just my overactive imagination. After the vandalism at my apartment, I’m paranoid about locking doors.”
“Do you want to call her? Maybe it’ll put your mind at ease to hear her voice.”
A lump formed in her throat as she swallowed the dryness from her mouth. She toyed with the corner of the pillowcase, unable to meet his gaze. “I can�
��t call her. She died a year ago.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “What happened?”
Oh, no. She’d been avoiding this conversation for a month now. Did she really want to open this can of worms at six o’clock in the morning? She didn’t want to open it ever, but looking at Sean’s furrowed brow, the concern in his dark brown eyes… He deserved the truth—at least a slice of it.
“She killed herself.” There. She’d said it. That wasn’t so bad. He didn’t need to know all the details leading up to her death. The fact that she’d died was enough. He pulled her close, and she snuggled into the comfort of his strong arms.
“I’m sorry. That must have been so hard for you.”
“I’d rather not talk about it.”
He pressed his nose against her head and inhaled deeply. “Sometimes talking—”
“Sean, please. I can’t.” She wouldn’t. That was not her sister’s spirit trying to make contact; it was a dream. Nothing more.
“Okay.”
They lay together in silence, Sean’s rhythmic breathing lulling her senses, calming her frazzled nerves. Her lids fluttered; she couldn’t fight the heaviness in her eyes, and she let them close. Content to be nestled in the safety of Sean’s embrace, she allowed sleep to pull her under again. His sudden intake of breath roused her from her short slumber.
“Did your sister look like you?”
Not this again. Why wouldn’t he let it go? “No, she looked like my dad. I look more like my mom.”
He rose onto his elbow, and a strange urgency lit in his eyes. “What did she look like?”
“Blonde. Brown eyes. A few inches shorter than me. Why?”
“And her voice sounded strangled in your dream?” Excitement danced in his eyes, but his brow still creased in concern.
“Yes, but can we not talk about it?”
“Hold on.” He dove to the other side of the bed and grabbed his sketchbook. Flipping through the pages, he settled on one and clutched it to his chest. “I saw a blonde woman in my dreams too.”
She narrowed her eyes. What was he getting at?
Love & Ghosts: Crescent City Ghost Tours Page 18